Palliative Care is NOT HOSPICE, rather it is an approach to care providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious, often life-threatening illness.
Some common illnesses treated by our Palliative Care Team include Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of Dementia, Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Heart Failure, Liver or Kidney Failure, COPD, and many others.
Our Palliative Care Team consists of healthcare professionals, social workers, spiritual counselors, and other specialists who work with the patient’s existing healthcare providers to provide relief – whatever the diagnosis. This extra layer of support is appropriate at any age, including Pediatric patients, and at any stage in a serious illness if eligibility criteria are met. Palliative Care may be provided along with curative treatment (for example, alongside Chemotherapy).
Four Seasons is known for providing excellent provider-led Palliative Care, with fast response times and high patient satisfaction.
Goals of Palliative Care
- Prevent frequent burdensome hospitalizations
- Optimize quality of life for you and your family
- Help you better understand your condition and your care choices
- Empower you and your family in managing complex illnesses
- Provide expert symptom management
- Improve your ability to go through medical treatments
- Allow extra time for communication
- Help in navigating the healthcare system
Palliative Care Information
Palliative Care Eligibility Criteria
We prioritize caring for people living with serious illness and feel we can have the most impact for those individuals with a life expectancy of approximately 2 years.
- We focus on diagnoses where we can have the most impact: Cancer, COPD, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD), Dementia and other neurological conditions, Cerebrovascular disease, Debility, abnormal weight loss, elderly and frail, and others at our discretion.
- All patients are screened by a Palliative Care RN prior to an initial provider visit being scheduled.
- They are screened based on the criteria outlined above.
- Each patient is called for RN assessment which includes education about Palliative Care services.
- If the patient/family is accepting of our services after RN assessment is completed, then our Administrative team will call to schedule an initial visit with a Palliative Care provider.
- Our goal is to collaborate with an individual’s PCP or specialist providers to enhance the quality of life of those living with a serious illness.
- If a patient is determined not to meet our current admission criteria, a Palliative Care team member will contact the referral source to let them know that the patient is not currently appropriate for our program.
- While we do not provide chronic pain management services and we do not specialize in complex mental health services, we may still be able to provide Palliative Care services with appropriate boundaries if the patient meets our admission criteria.
- Some patients may be more appropriate for Hospice services at the time of RN screening and if accepting during assessment, a Hospice order may be requested from the referral source so that the patient can be connected to the most appropriate level of service.
Your Palliative Care Team
A Palliative Care Team consists of a Provider (Physician, Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner), Social Worker, Chaplain, Music Therapist, and other specialists who work together with your primary health care provider to manage the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the individual and loved one(s).
What to Expect from Palliative Care
Once we receive a referral from either you or a provider:
- You will be contacted by a Palliative Care nurse within about 24-48 business hours for an assessment call.
- If the patient meets eligibility criteria, you will be scheduled for a provider visit within 7-14 business days, depending on location, provider availability, and patient/family scheduling preferences.
- Please note that timing is dependent on our ability to reach the patient/family by phone.
What Services does the Palliative Care Team Provide?
How Does Palliative Care Help?
This specialized care helps you carry on with your daily life. You can expect relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.
We collaborate with your existing health care providers to coordinate care (we don’t replace your doctor, we are additional support for you)- Provide Pain and Symptom Management
- Conduct a Medical Exam
- Provide Healthcare Social Work Support
- Conduct a Medication Audit to prevent drug interactions
- Provide Emotional and Spiritual Support from qualified professionals
- Offer assistance with Advance Care Planning
How Does Palliative Care Help?
This specialized care helps you carry on with your daily life. You can expect relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.
We collaborate with your existing health care providers to coordinate care (we don’t replace your doctor, we are additional support for you)
- Provide Pain and Symptom Management
- Conduct a Medical Exam
- Provide Healthcare Social Work Support
- Conduct a Medication Audit to prevent drug interactions
- Provide Emotional and Spiritual Support from qualified professionals
- Offer assistance with Advance Care Planning
How is Palliative Care Paid For?
Payment for Palliative Care is the same as any other medical provider coverage provided by your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Palliative Care is a consultative specialist to your primary care physician and is considered the same as if your primary care physician recommends any specialist. As with any specialist your provider refers you to, your insurance policy will outline co-payments and any other financial obligations you will be responsible for during your consultation. There are options available for patients with a decreased ability to pay for services.
- Commercial Insurance
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Medications paid by commercial insurance or Medicare D
- Private Pay
- VA
- Four Seasons Foundation
Where is Palliative Care Provided?
Palliative Care is provided wherever the patient receives care – a private home, nursing center, assisted living community, the hospital, and also at our outpatient clinics. It is provided in Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, and Transylvania counties.
Palliative Care Clinics
Andrews
3 Wilson Street
Andrews, NC
2 Medical Park Drive
571 South Allen Road
Flat Rock, NC
Franklin
108 Macon Center Drive
Franklin, NC
Why Should You Choose Four Seasons Palliative Care?
- We offer Fast Response & Reliable Care
Four Seasons is known for fast response times and we are on call 24 hours a day to provide support and give you peace of mind. Instead of waiting for a doctor’s appointment or hospital visit, many times our Palliative Care Team can take care of your needs more immediately. - We are a Highly Rated, Award-Winning, Nonprofit Organization
Being a nonprofit organization doesn’t mean the care at Four Seasons is inferior. On the contrary, Four Seasons is a nationally-recognized organization, achieving Deemed Status in the Joint Commission Survey, awarded Hospice Honors for a high level of quality care, and bestowed the Circle of Life Award, awarded for Four Seasons provision of innovative Palliative Care. Being a nonprofit Organization is a great thing, because it means we are free to focus on the patient, and to provide care to everyone, no matter of their ability to pay.
Four Seasons Commitment to Palliative Care Patients
- We will have a Palliative Care provider on-call 24/7. Providers can be a Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or Physician’s Assistant (PA).
- We will provide:
- A comprehensive team across multiple settings, including a hospital, facility, home, or clinic.
- Continuity of care
- Interdisciplinary team of educated staff who are dedicated specifically to Palliative Care. This includes providers, nurses, social workers, and administrative support
- Expert symptom management and prescribing as appropriate
More Information
To learn more about Four Seasons services, and should you like our assistance in speaking with your doctor about Palliative Care, please call us at 828.692.6178 or 866.466.9734 (toll-free).
For additional resources:
- Watch our other videos.
- Please visit the National Palliative Care Research Center website.
- Download our Palliative Care Guide
